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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[April
18314
147
SECTION 14.24 MAY 07
}
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Draft King's Regulation.
NOTICE.
THE following Regulation made by His Majesty's Minister, and approved by His Majesty the King, is published for general information.
Peking,
1907.
His Majesty's Minister.
KING'S REGULATION MADE UNDER ARTICLE 155 OF THE CHINA AND COREA ORDER IN COUNCIL 1904.
No.
1907.
1
Peace, order, and good government of His Majesty's subjects serving in the Municipal Police Forces of the British Concessions in China.
Whereas certain British subjects are now and may hereafter be serving in the Municipal Police Forces of the British Concessions in China, under contract with the Municipal Councils;
And whereas it is expedient that provision be made for the order and good government of such British subjects who are not at the present time subject to discipline;
The following King's Regulation is made :--
1. Any person who disobeys the lawful commands of his superior officer, or
2. Any person who deserts or attempts to desert the service of the Municipal Police Forces of the British Concessions in China, or
3. Any person who by any means whatsoever procures or persuades any person serving in the Municipal Police Forces of the British Concessions in China to desert, shall be guilty of a breach of this Regulation and shall be liable to punishment as for a breach of a King's Regulation.
4. This Regulation may be cited as "The British Concessions in China Municipal Police Regulation, 1907."
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No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 6.)
(No. 86.) Sir,
Peking, February 18, 1907. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch, with inclosures, from Flis Majesty's Consul General at Canton, forwarding copies of the correspondence which has passed between himself and the Chinese authorities relative to the adoption of effective measures for the suppression of piracy on the inland waters.
The question has continued to receive constant attention since the date of my last despatch on the subject, but great difficulty has been experienced both here and at Canton in inducing the Chinese authorities to accept any scheme which involves a sufficient measure of foreign control to inspire confidence in its success.
On learning from Mr. Mansfield by telegraph that Admiral Li refused to agree to patrolling launches being placed under the control of the Customs, and that the Viceroy had withdrawn the consent he had previously given to the employment of foreigners, subject to the Admiral's approval, I saw the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu on the 25th ultimo, and again strongly pressed them to place the patrolling of the river in the hands of the Customs.
They thought it possible that an arrangement might be made by which six launches should be put entirely under the control of the Customs. The vessels would be nominally regarded as revenue cruisers, but they would be manned and equipped as the Customs saw fit, and they could be used in convoying merchant-vessels and in maintaining a patrol of the river between the Treaty ports.
Mr. Mansfield, to whom this proposal was communicated, considered it the best obtainable, but be thought there should be a definite understanding that the cruisers were to operate actively against pirates. The launches which are now being built at Hong Kong for the Canton Government would not, Mr. Mansfield added, have sufficient speed for the purpose, and he suggested that the patrolling should include the North and East Rivers and important creeks,
Sir R. Hart, with whom I have been in constant communication on the subject, and whose co-operation is essential for the success of the scheme, did not agree with Mr. Mansfield that the business required armed cruisers of 11 miles speed. He pointed out that there is no "piracy," properly speaking, and no piratical craft to chase. All the outrages that had taken place had been committed by passengers, and what patrol had to prevent was the complicity of "sanpans," &c., which enabled the plunderers to land and make off with their plunder. A preliminary study ought, the Inspector-General thought, to be made of the cases which had occurred, and the points at which the passengers first appeared, and eventually disappeared, should be noted on the charts for special observation. There was no possibility of beginning with a complete scheme, and the North and East Rivers should be left out of account until the interport control was fully established.
The Inspector-General also demurred, in the absence of instructions, to providing the cost of the launches from Customs funds, and gave me to understand that I must arrange this point direct with the Chinose Government.
I had accordingly a further interview with the Wai-wu Pu on the 8th instant, at which the understanding that the Customs should have from six to eight launches for use in connection with piracy, repression, and preventive work was confirmed. The Ministers promised to telegraph to the Viceroy and ascertain how many suitable Sir R. Hart would receive launches he could place at the disposal of the Customs. authority to purchase the remainder from Customs funds, of which he had a considerable surplus.
I communicated the result of this interview both to Sir R. Hart and Mr. Mansfield, and instructed the latter to keep in close personal communication with the Viceroy on the subject.
A telegram which I have received from Mr. Mansfield to-day, and of which I have the honour to inclose a paraphrase, affords some hope of a favourable issue to
[2450 ƒ-14]
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